Lawyers want Patterson moved to another prison

September 10, 2008 1:52:38 PM PDT

CHICAGO --

Attorneys for Aaron Patterson are petitioning to have him moved from Big Sandy maximum security federal prison in Kentucky to another facility. His lawyers claim Patterson has been denied his rights to legal visits and calls. Also, they say he recently suffered a beating at the hands of a cellmate.

Patterson is a former death row inmate who was pardoned by then Illinois Governor George Ryan. He's in prison now serving a sentence for drug and weapons conspiracy.

ABC7 was unable to contact any officials from the Big Sandy prison for comment.